A two-pound, 14-ounce largemouth bass probably wouldn’t draw much attention at most boat ramps. But when 12-year-old Finnegan Arnold landed one on 4-pound line, the fish became the latest chapter in a world-record chase that has quickly turned the Florida youngster into one of the most accomplished junior anglers in the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) record book.
Arnold, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, submitted the bass for consideration as an IGFA Junior Male 4-pound line-class world record. The application is currently listed as pending by the IGFA. For Arnold, however, fishing with line most bass anglers would consider unusually light has become almost routine.
Over the past several months, Arnold — who goes by Fin — has collected 26 recognized or pending IGFA Junior Line Class world records across an assortment of freshwater and saltwater species. His record list includes largemouth bass, king mackerel, red drum, mahi mahi, snook, snakehead, clown knifefish, and catfish. Five of his records have come while fly fishing.
Chasing the Record Book
The impressive part isn’t simply the number of records. Arnold is specifically targeting them.
His world-record run started after he discovered the IGFA’s line-class record system and began studying the record book. Instead of simply trying to catch the biggest fish possible, Arnold realized there were records available for anglers who could land fish on exceptionally light line. Some existing records looked nearly impossible. Others appeared within reach. There were even vacant junior records that nobody had claimed.
“I found out about line-class fishing records for different fish and that the IGFA keeps track of them,” Arnold said. “It sounded really cool so I started looking at them.”
Arnold and his father, marine photographer and videographer Jason Arnold, began making a list of records they thought Fin could realistically pursue. The first target was king mackerel.
In April, father and son headed offshore from Fort Lauderdale looking for a kingfish that could qualify for one of the junior line-class records.
Ironically, Arnold said they normally caught plenty of king mackerel while targeting sailfish, but once they intentionally started fishing for kings, sailfish kept finding their baits and breaking the light line.
Eventually, Arnold landed a king mackerel weighing around seven pounds on 6-pound test. They took the fish to a certified scale and completed the paperwork required by the IGFA. One record quickly turned into another.
Learning Lessons Along the Way
Within roughly four months, Arnold had accumulated more than two dozen recognized or pending records. The pursuit has taken father and son from Florida saltwater to freshwater destinations around the country, and forced the young angler to learn how to fight fish without relying on heavy tackle. His father believes that may be one of the biggest benefits of the entire experience.
“I’d say if you want your kid to be really good at fighting fish, put them on super light line and it gives them an entirely new perspective, because you aren’t just reeling the fish in,” Jason said. “Finesse fighting makes anyone a better angler.”
Under IGFA rules, line-class records are based on the breaking strength of the fishing line used to make the catch. That changes the fight considerably.
With 4-pound line, for example, an angler can’t simply tighten the drag and pull a bass away from cover. Every run, head shake, and change of direction matters. According to IGFA rules, line-class catches also must meet minimum weight requirements before they can qualify for consideration.
Light Line, Big Challenge
Arnold learned just how difficult light-line fishing could be during a trip to Illinois, where he targeted hybrid striped bass with a fly rod and 2-pound tippet. After breaking off around 10 flies, Arnold finally landed one.
“It’s probably the record I’m most proud of,” he said. “That’s crazy thin, like a hair, so I had the drag really loose and the fish ran a lot.”
All of Arnold’s record catches have come on St. Croix rods, with the young angler saying he primarily uses lighter AVID Inshore models because their sensitivity helps him keep track of what a fish is doing during a fight. The record chase has also caught the attention of the IGFA itself. Arnold said the organization offered him an internship where he can learn more about its record-keeping, education, and fisheries’ conservation programs.
For now, though, Arnold doesn’t appear interested in slowing down. He has already talked about pursuing a mahi mahi record on 2-pound line and taking a shot at fly-fishing records for bonefish. Each new target starts much the same way: study the record book, identify a fish and line class that looks attainable, figure out where to catch it, and then try to make it happen.
That process has changed fishing for Arnold. He’s still a 12-year-old kid who likes surfing, skateboarding, playing piano and guitar, and spending time on the water with his father. But now, every fishing trip has the potential to become something more.
“Fishing has always been fun, but now there’s like a reward to it,” Arnold said. “It makes it really exciting.”
For a kid who only started seriously chasing records this spring, there may be plenty more rewards ahead.
